Today in Salem: Twenty jars of grease. Granted, they’re small jars. No one denies that. But it’s suspicious. What is the grease for? The nurse Ann Pudeator has already explained this once, back in July, during her hearing. It’s for soap, not ointments. Why is this coming up again?
It hardly matters. The court already has two other accusations of real-world evil. When her husband’s first wife died suddenly, Ann was suspected of killing her. Then he himself died, and left Ann with considerable property. Did she murder them both for money?
As for spectral evil, her neighbors testify that they’ve seen her specter, which has pinched someone until they’re black and blue.
Finally Mary Warren, a confessed witch, says that Ann had made a man fall out of a tree just by looking at him.
The judges find her guilty.
The distinguished Mary Bradbury’s trial
The distinguished Mary Bradbury stands tall before the court. She is 77 and frail, but no less regal in her bearing. Her husband is a leader in the colony. Not only that, but his great-uncle had been the Archbishop of Canterbury under Queen Elizabeth.
She and her husband are widely respected. In fact, the judges have several petitions in her favor, one of them signed by 115 people, including a minister and several magistrates. But they don’t outweigh testimony that her specter tormented a man who is loathed for his assaults on women. As much as people detest him, though, spectral torment is still evil.
Mary is also accused of selling butter that turned rancid, and causing the death of sheep, horses, and even men.
The judges have made up their minds, though. Even with her pedigree and wide support, the judges pronounce her guilty.
Later she will plead ”not guilty” in writing.
The Answer of Mary Bradbury in the charge of Witchcraft or familliarity with the Divell I doe plead not guilty.
I am wholly inocent of any such wickedness through the goodness of god that have kept mee hitherto) I am the servant of Jesus Christ & Have given my self up to him as my only lord & saviour: and to the dilligent attendance upon him in all his holy ordinances, in utter contempt & defiance of the divell, and all his works as horid & detestible; and accordingly have endevo’red to frame my life; & conversation according to the rules of his holy word, & in that faith & practise resolve by the help and assistance of god to contineu to my lifes end: for the truth of what I say as to matter of practiss I humbly refer my self to my brethren & neighbors that know mee and unto the searcher of all hearts for the truth & uprightness of my heart therein: (human frailties, & unavoydable infirmities excepted) of which i bitterly complayne every day:/ Mary Bradbury
The condemned
It’s close to nightfall as the court scribe puts his notes together. Five women have now been sentenced: the fortuneteller and now shorn Dorcas Hoar, the shrew Alice Parker, the pious Mary Esty, the nurse Ann Pudeator, and the distinguished Mary Bradbury.
